"Self, Now" reflects on the tension between one’s present self and a younger, unburdened version of the self. The figure in the foreground represents who Liu is now—what he sees in the mirror. Its thick, heavy surface suggests concealment, evoking the impulse to hide when self-doubt sets in, much like masking oneself behind layers of makeup. Behind him stands a younger self, or an idealized version of himself, unmarked by weight or expectation, embodying a time of possibility and lightness. The painting suggests that, despite the accumulated layers of selfhood, one must ultimately confront and reconcile with one’s own history.